Cascades Tissue Pushes Deeper into Green Power

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When you use recycled paper to make nearly all of your products, it makes sense to promote wind power and conservation, Suzanne Blanchet, president of Cascades Tissue Group, said in a MarketWatch report last week. Cascades Tissue is the $1 billion unit of Cascades Inc., Kingsey Falls, Que., Canada, which also operates in the U.S.

"We want to be ahead of everyone else—we want to be a shaper, not a follower," Blanchet said of the company's push into green power. The move to begin purchasing renewable energy credits costs more than conventional electricity, but Blanchet said it fits with Cascades Tissue's principle and products. "It takes 30 years to grow a tree and then you use it in a paper towel that you throw away in 10 seconds," she said. "We can now use recycled paper to make products as good as from virgin paper."

Since 2008, Cascade has purchased renewable energy credits from wind power. The move helps prevent 43 million lb of carbon dioxide emissions. Cascades Tissue Group includes a brand called North River towels and tissues, which is reportedly the only tissue offset entirely with renewable electricity. To distinguish itself from some of its rivals, MarketWatch noted that the company is rolling out a line of recycled paper towels that contain benazlkonium chloride, which helps protect against bacterial contamination for 30 minutes. On average, washing hands correctly eliminates 90% of bacteria, but the bacteria remaining on hands could double in 20 minutes, the company said.